Do cockpit windows block UV?

Airline pilots can be exposed to the same amount of UV-A radiation as that from a tanning bed session because airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation, according to research. Airplane windshields are commonly made of polycarbonate plastic or multilayer composite glass.



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Airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation and therefore are not enough to protect pilots.

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The study found that flying in a cockpit for 56.6 minutes at 30,000 feet exposed pilots to the same amount of UV-A radiation as a 20-minute tanning bed session.

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Both flight attendants and dermatologists agree that anyone boarding a plane should wear sunscreen. The sun is more intense at higher elevations, and plane windows don't block harmful UVA rays. Beyond sunscreen, experts recommend wearing long sleeves and shutting the plane window.

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Pilots can and sometimes do smoke in the cockpits of business jets. These can be as large as airliners (see BBJ), but usually aren't. Even when a country and/or airline ban smoking in the flight deck, some pilots will ignore the ban and still light up.

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